A care firm has pulled out of an £8m five-year contract to help people at home after they leave hospital in Plymouth.

Gemcare South West was given the joint Plymouth City Council and Devon NHS contract in September to take over at the start of December.

The new Independence@Home service combines the city's rapid discharge service with the council’s reablement contract which expires on December 2.

But the council’s cabinet - made up of senior members of the ruling Labour group - heard on Tuesday the care firm now did not want to go ahead.

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Members agreed in principle for the council to take control of the service with day to day management support from care partner Livewell Southwest.

The final decision was delegated to be taken after financial checks have been carried out.

Councillors also agreed if the in-house service could not be set up in time for the start of the contract, a short-term extension up to a maximum of March 2019 should be negotiated with current provider HSG.

A strategic review will be carried out after 12 months to decide the future of the service.